AZ House moves to ban sale of women's eggs

Phoenix, AZ – The measure is being pushed by Rep. Bob Stump. He saidthe procedure is medically hazardous and that people oneither end of the transaction should not benefit.

(Just as it's unethical and illegal to sell humanorgans, so it should be illegal to sell human eggs.Would we countenance the selling of bone marrow fortransplants? Would we allow scientists to payindividuals to give up certain internal organs forresearch?)

But Stump conceded his concerns go beyond the medicalhealth of the donors. He wants to throw an additionalroadblock in the path of human cloning, a process thatoften starts with donated human eggs. The call forhuman eggs, advertised in some campus publications,apparently can be lucrative: One company's classifiedad says women can earn up to $24,000 for six separateegg donations. He said college students in particularare targeted. And he said the practice can lead toexploitation of poor women who pursue the cash despiterisks. This isn't Stump's only effort this session.Earlier this week, he convinced the House HealthCommittee to approve a measure which requires a doctorto inform a prospective egg donor that there are risks,including complications from having hormones injectedto produce multiple eggs as well as potential problemsfrom the harvesting procedure. Stump acknowledged thatthese dangers exist whether eggs are donated or sold.

(But intent has to be operative when it comes toethical practice. Is one donating an egg to an IVFclinic to enable a childless couple to have a child? Oris one selling one's eggs for cloning research, again,with no medical benefit for themself, and for theexpress purpose of destroying cloned human embroys?)

As approved by the House Judiciary committee, thelegislation would subject violators to up to a year injail, whether they are the donors or the companies thatbuy the eggs. The measure does not ban donations,whether for fertilization or medical research. But itdoes spell out that women could receive no money or --quote -- other valuable consideration. Rep. Ben Mirandasaid that raises questions about whether women could becompensated for their time or out-of-pocket expenses.Stump said he will attempt to clarify the measurebefore it reaches the House floor. Stump's campaignagainst human cloning is not new: Last year he usheredthrough legislation to ban the use of state funds orresources for any human cloning research. In Phoenix,for Arizona Public Radio this is Howard Fischer